In the shadowed cellar of a Glasgow confectionery store in 2003, while the world outside erupted in protest against the Iraq War, a young man sat in a petrified silence that would one day become the heartbeat of a movement.
The stamping, bashing, and cacophony above was not just the noise of a city in turmoil; it was the birth of a story that would take over twenty years to tell. Today, that man, award-winning theatre-maker Umar Butt, is transforming that dread into a catalyst for community through his newest production, JOLT. As one of the five Tees Valley Artists of the Year 2025, Butt is using this platform to share his journey with Asian Voice, offering a raw exploration of how diverse neighbourhoods can find unity in the wake of chaos.
The spark of resilience
The seed for JOLT was planted during those hours in the cellar, but it bloomed the moment the shop shutters were finally raised. "I saw an elderly couple with a little brush and a plastic shovel, picking broken glass and putting it in the bin," Butt recalls. "That was breath, that is resilience for me.'" For years, that memory flickered whenever he heard news of riots in London or Newcastle, but the true jolt came in 2024 when protests turned into riots in his own backyard of Hartlepool and Middlesbrough. Seeing the same resilience in the morning-after clean-ups on his local streets, the community turned to him, the writer they knew, and asked him to speak for them, to inform and make things better for a generation of children who deserve a more accepting world.
A first-generation journey
Having moved from Pakistan to Glasgow and then to the North East, Butt has spent 13 years as an “honourary Smoggy.” His understanding of resilience is deeply rooted in his work as an artistic associate at ARC Stockton. By bringing in the Festival of Lights for Diwali and screening international films like ‘Sholay’, he began a dialogue that transcended language barriers, facilitated by his fluency in Urdu, Punjabi, and English. This engagement showed him that resilience isn't just surviving; it is the active work of neighbours choosing to understand each other’s global stories close to home.
Protest + Violence = Riot
Umar insists that “theatre only works if there is conflict.” During the Research & Development phase at ARC Stockton this January 2026, he delved into a raw formula: Protest + Violence = Riot. He wants audiences to confront the frightened place where racism and cultural misunderstandings begin, the false notion that people are receiving benefits others are not. JOLT is designed to be a dialogue before it is a drama, a safe space for the global majority and white communities alike to ask the hard questions that are often avoided.
The ongoing quest
Despite the acclaim, the personal journey remains fraught. "I've had eggs thrown at me; I've been called names on the street in Teesside," Butt admits. Yet, these experiences of displacement and representation are what make him “tick.” His storytelling remains an exploration of what home truly means in a world that can often feel hostile. Until the lay of the land changes, he will continue to use his body, mind, and heart to ensure his children do not feel the isolation he once did.
Scheduled to officially open at ARC Stockton in September 2026, the production will feature graduates from The Northern School of Art, bridging the gap between education and the professional industry. In these scary times, he hopes JOLT will be the breath that allows a community to finally relax, put down the shutters, and work together toward a shared, accepting future.
